The story took a hard look at how humans treated each other and anyone they thought was different, but it was also a touching reminder of how good people could be when they put their differences aside.
To think it was going to be made into a movie, and she was going to be a part of that process, was unbelievable.
Even more unbelievable was that she and Mitch were in a relationship. They hadn’t told anyone about it. Mitch had said he was going to talk to his son, Kyle, to see if he was ready for his widowed father to date again.
Thinking about that made her look up from her tablet. Mitch hadn’t texted her to say how the talk had gone. What did that mean? That everything was all right? Or that Kyle wasn’t ready? Or maybe the timing hadn’t been right, and the talk had never happened at all.
She checked her phone again. Nope, no text. And she’d already seen the lights were off at his house. She’d just have to wait until tomorrow to find out. It wasn’t a big deal. She’d see Mitch in the afternoon. They were going to look at some dogs for adoption.
She truly hoped he found a dog that he connected with. She hadn’t said anything to him about it, but having a source of unconditional love, like a dog, could be very healing for a lot of people. And Mitch still had healing to do.
With him on her mind, she went back to the book. It had been some years since she’d last read it, long enough that she’d forgotten many of the wonderful little scenes that took place.
She read until nearly midnight, not feeling bad about staying up late. The book was as good as she remembered, and worth missing sleep for.
Even so, she drifted off as soon as her head hit the pillow.
She awoke to the sound of her name being whisper-yelled through the door. “Harper.Harper.”
“Hmm. Huh? What? I’m up.” She wasn’t really, but she did her best to look that way when Frankie opened the door, scrubbing her hands over her face in an attempt to wake up a little more.
“There’s a naked man swimming laps in our pool.”
Harper blinked, squinting at her sister. Why were mornings so bright? “What did you say?”
Frankie’s volume increased. “There’s anakedman swimming laps in our pool.”
Harper yawned and did a quick mental inventory for the reason why that might be happening. “Oh. That’s Jack. At least I hope it is. I was going to tell you guys last night but you’d already both gone to bed.”
Frankie just stared at her, mouth open.
Harper threw the covers off. “I don’t think I told him I wasn’t the only one in the house.”
Frankie’s eyes widened. “You know the naked man in the pool?”
“Yes. Jack Marsh. Arlington’s son.”
Frankie sucked in air. “TheJackson Marsh? That’s who’s in our pool? Naked?”
“So you said. Yes, that Jack Marsh.” Harper found her robe and pulled it on, sticking her feet into flipflops. This wasn’t remotely how she’d imagined her day starting, but there wasn’t much she could do about it now. “I’ll go talk to him. Is there coffee?”
“No, not yet, but why—”
“Can you make some? Please?” She knotted the belt. Archie was already at her side, ready to go. “Thanks. I’ll explain everything when I get back.”
Harper went past her sister and down the steps, holding onto the handrail, because she still wasn’t completely awake. Archie dashed ahead of her, making it to the back door of the rec room well before she did. The pool was visible through the wall of glass windows. As was the naked man cutting through the water.
“What are you going to say to him?”
Harper jumped, not realizing Frankie had followed her down. She exhaled. “Are you trying to kill me? I’m barely awake here.”
“Sorry. Just curious.”
Harper opened the door. Archie bolted like a rabbit, probably thinking he was about to go out. “I’m going to explain there are other people here and he needs to stay dressed.”
Frankie made a funny face. “So if it was just you here—”
“Nope. He’d still need clothes on.”
